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Singularity University (SU), a global community using exponential technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges, has partnered with the East African Community (EAC) and the Information and Communication Technology Authority, Kenya (ICT, Kenya) to launch a Global Impact Challenge (GIC) in East Africa.
This challenge is an open call to innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and technologists to propose moonshot innovations to address climate change.
“One of our aspirations for the East African Community is to build our region’s ICT capacities to encourage innovation and increase competitiveness. Singularity University’s GIC has therefore come at an opportune time when we are seeking to take advantage of accelerating technologies to grow our region,” said Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko, Secretary General of the East African Community.
The SingularityU East Africa Global Impact Challenge is open to all residents and citizens of East Africa, over the age of 21. Winner(s) will receive a full sponsorship to attend SU’s Global Solutions Program (GSP) at SU’s campus at NASA Research Park in Mountain View, California. Within the GSP, participants are provided with SU’s core curriculum on exponential thinking, technologies, and leadership, in addition to access to SU’s extensive global network of alumni and participating companies to further develop and commercialize their innovations. Finalists will benefit by having access to a cadre of mentors and coaches from SU, EAC, and ICT, Kenya to engage with them during the startup phase of their projects.
Winner(s) will be selected on 23 March 2017, by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from SU, EAC, and ICT, Kenya, as well as senior representatives from the business and entrepreneurial communities in East Africa. Finalists will be judged on their expertise and experience, as well as the sustainability, scalability, and potential impact of their proposed solutions.
“This is our first SU GIC in East Africa and our goal is to inspire innovative thinking within the region to solve local problems and create prosperity,” said Regina Njima, senior manager of Global Impact Challenges at SU. “This GIC is also a great opportunity to create a bridge between Silicon Valley and East African innovation ecosystems.”
“The new SU partnership with EAC and ICT creates a powerful catalyst to ignite innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit throughout East Africa,” said Nicholas Haan, VP of Impact, Singularity University. “We look forward to a long collaboration that will bring sustainable development and growth to East Africa.”
“Kenya is recognized the world over for its appetite to innovate and adopt transformative solutions to everyday challenges. Collaboration on this GIC with the support of SU and the East African Community will play a significant role in helping to solve regional social, economic, and political challenges, and we hope to expand these opportunities beyond our boundaries,” commented Eunice Kariuki, The Kenya ICT Authority’s Director of Partnerships, Innovation and Capacity.
